Bridging the Gap Leadership Conference
The Bridging the Gap Leadership Conference is for every woman–spanning generations, life stages, and leadership experience. We believe every woman is a potential leader, and we have designed this event for you!
You will gain fresh perspectives, resources, and connections with sister leaders from across Minnesota. Come individually or with your team!
- February 20-21
- Lake Geneva Christian Center (Alexandria, MN)
- Featuring Kristie Kerr, Keaton & Emily Goetz (worship), Amber Gerstmann (emcee), Multiple Workshop Speakers, and More!
- Plus the Lund Leadership Award Presentation, Leadership Exchange, Brainstorming Groups, Lakeside Bonfire Devotion, Coffee, After-Party, and More
- SUB Project Collection for the Single Moms Retreat
- Add-On Options: Exhibitor Table, Friday Dinner, Sweatshirt, Thurs and/or Sat Night Lodging, Professional Headshots
Details
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Friday:
- 4:30 pm – Check-in + Exhibitor Shopping Opens (Dining Hall)
- 5:00-6:30 pm – Dinner (Optional Presale Add-on by Feb 13; Limited On-Site Add-on; Dining Hall) and Fold Coffee Cart Available
- 5:30-6:30 pm – Professional Headshot Photos (Optional Ticket Add-on or Walk-On)
- 7:00 pm – Main Session ONE: Lund Leadership Award Presentation + Kristie Kerr (Worship Center)
- 8:45-9:30 pm – Check-in (Dining Hall)
- 9:00-11:00 pm – After-Party
- BTG Bingo Experience with Pamela Steinle (9:15 pm)
- Bonfires
- Exhibitor Shopping
- Fold Coffee Cart
- Guided Moonlit Walk (9:15 pm)
- Indoor Pool + Outdoor Hot Tub
- Pizza
- Popcorn & Bring-Your-Own Craft and Puzzles
Saturday:
- 7:00 am – Lakeside Bonfire Devotion
- 7:00-8:30 am – Breakfast + Exhibitor Shopping + Fold Coffee Cart (Dining Hall)
- 7:45-9:00 am – Saturday Check-in (Dining Hall)
- 8:00-8:30 am – Brainstorming Groups (Dining Hall Lower Level)
- 8:00-9:00 am – Professional Headshot Photos (Optional Ticket Add-on or Walk-On)
- 9:00 am – Main Session TWO (Worship Center)
- 10:30-11:15 am – Workshops ONE (Scroll Down to See Descriptions & Bios)
- 11:30 am-12:15 pm – Workshops TWO (Scroll Down to See Descriptions & Bios)
- 12:30 pm – Lunch + Exhibitor Shopping + Fold Coffee Cart (Dining Hall)
- 2:00 pm – Main Session THREE (Worship Center): Leadership Exchange
Promo Tools
Leadership Resources & Audio Archives
2026 Featured Guests
Kristie Kerr – Speaker
Read Bio
Kristie Kerr is an author, speaker, worship leader, church planter, and mother of four. She has written several women’s books and Bible Studies, in addition to a series of gender specific devotionals and curriculum for children called “Polka Dot Girls” and “Bazooka Boys.” In 2015, she and her husband, Jeff launched Homestead Community Church in Farmington, MN. You can also hear them on their podcast, “A Little Kerrspective.”
Angie Goetz – BTG Director
Read Bio
Pastor Angie Goetz is the wife to her best friend Cory, mom to three amazing kids and two daughters-in-laws, a speaker, and the director of Bridging the Gap (BTG) women’s ministry whose purpose is to encourage, equip and empower every woman in her faith journey with Jesus Christ.
Angie is passionate about creating a multigenerational community where all women can thrive in the potential that God has for them. She desires women to live fearlessly and boldly in their faith, knowing that we serve the God of the impossible. World missions captured Angie’s heart long ago, and if there is one thing that keeps her up at night, it’s thinking about the women here and all across the world that still don’t know Jesus.
Angie loves being surrounded by hundreds or thousands of women together worshipping God, or sitting at a coffee shop with a few talking about what God is personally doing in their lives. And although she’s a Minnesota girl desperate to decorate for Christmas at the first sign of snow, some of her favorite moments are sitting on a boat in the water, soaking in the sun, with a ice cold diet coke in her hand.
Follow Angie on Instagram.
Amber Gerstmann – Emcee
Read Bio
Pastor Amber Gerstmann is married to Trevor and is a momma of five from Fergus Falls, MN. She’s a worship leader, Bible/theology teacher, runner, and coffee enthusiast. She is animated, talkative, and loves to GEEK OUT on all things music and theology. Amber is passionate about expressing the great love and truth of Jesus found in His word. You can find her regularly doing so on her website awideopenspace.com. Amber is a licensed minister with the Assemblies of God. She holds two B.A.’s in Music and Biblical Studies and an M.A. in Theological Studies. She also serves as a creative advisor and emcee for the Bridging the Gap Thrive Conference.
2026 Workshops

Pat Schwalbe: Servant Leadership
Pat Schwalbe, Chief of Operations at CROSS Services Food Shelf and Social Service Agency, brings a practical and faith-centered perspective to the topic of Christian Servant Leadership. Drawing from years of service in a nonprofit organization dedicated to meeting basic needs and strengthening families.
Pat shares how Christian Servant Leadership is a leadership approach rooted in the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, who modeled leadership through humility, service, and sacrificial love. Rather than seeking power, status, or personal gain, a Christian servant leader puts the needs of others first, leads with compassion, and views leadership as a responsibility to serve. This model emphasizes character over authority, focusing on integrity, empathy, stewardship, and a commitment to the common good.
Leaders can aspire to Christian Servant Leadership by intentionally cultivating a servant’s heart in both mindset and practice. This includes listening before acting, valuing, and empowering others, making decisions grounded in faith and ethical principles, and leading with humility and accountability. Christian servant leaders seek to develop people rather than control them, steward resources wisely, and remain anchored in prayer and reflection. By aligning their actions with Christ’s example, leaders can build trust, inspire others, and create environments where individuals and communities can flourish.
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Pat Schwalbe is passionate about providing food and social services to underserved families in the northwestern suburbs. She has been part of CROSS Services since 2018, serving in a variety of roles and now as Chief of Operations. In this role, Pat oversees all aspects of operations, including client programs, the food shelf, food rescue, grant writing, and volunteer engagement. She public speaks on behalf of CROSS Services educating the community to the needs of the underserved families.
Beyond her work at CROSS Services, Pat actively volunteers with Bridging the Gap as an advisor, at the single mom’s retreat, and serves on the Age Friendly Maple Grove team, helping connect seniors with community opportunities. She’s an active member at River Valley Church. Pat is a former pastor who engages in the community in a variety of ways.
Pat is married to Chuck and the proud mom of two children and “Nana” to two grandchildren.

Tina Von Wald: Hoodwinked No More!
This empowering and interactive session helps leaders recognize how emotions can “hoodwink” them—shape their reactions, decisions, and relationships in hidden ways. Using emotional intelligence tools and biblical insight, participants will learn ways to identify emotional triggers and respond with grace instead of reactivity. The goal is learning to lead from a place of spiritual clarity, inner steadiness and leave Hoodwinked no more!
Tina and her husband have been married for 40 years and are the proud parents of three married children and grandparents to four. For 23 years, they co-pastored the church they planted in rural Foley, MN, retiring from pastoral ministry in June 2025. Tina is an ordained minister and earned her Master of Theology in Rural Ministry in 2021. She now serves as a life and leadership coach and is passionate about helping people navigate life, leadership and self-discovery with a Christ-centered approach to the Enneagram.
Follow @tinavonwald on social media.

Sheng Xiong: Leading in the Deep
Raising the next generation of leaders cross culturally. Per the 2023 MN Census, there are more than 250+ racial or ethnic groups. In a time where we have access to the nations, we don’t have to cross the sea to reach the nations, we can simply cross the street. So as we reach our neighbors, how do we raise leaders that will be able to lead in the depths of cultural differences?
Sheng is a wife, mom, and bivocational leader as she coleads ReChurch with her husband and is in the marketplace full time. She is an introvert at heart and thrives on genuine 1 on 1 conversations. Sheng enjoys coffee, cooking, coloring, and starting new hobbies halfway. In her downtime, she loves binge listening to sermons from all kinds of pastors.
Follow @sheng.vx on social media.

Panel - Part 1 (10:30 am): How to Process Forgiveness, Bitterness, and Offense as a Leader
Hear a LIVE conversation with wisdom-filled women as they share biblical teachings, personal stories, and advice on the powerful and vital topic of forgiveness as a leader!
- Part 1 (10:30 am) – How to Process Forgiveness, Bitterness, and Offense as a Leader
- Part 2 (11:30 am) – Navigating Forgiveness as Leaders with Fellow Believers
Mykelti Blum (panel facilitator) is a mom of two boys, wife, writer, speaker, host of the Bridging the Gap Podcast, and author of Braving Every Season. Mykelti loves connecting with others and knows the power of vulnerability. She is an open book, willing to discuss anything, so she’ll be the one to go first in sharing so that others feel less alone in their journey. Her passion is encouraging women to pursue their goals and dreams and to live in their purpose. Follow @mykelti_blum on social media.
Carol Lund is a Christian visionary, leader, and mentor, as well as a wife, mother of five, and grandmother of thirteen. As the former Director of Bridging the Gap for twenty-five years, she has been a catalyst for ministry to women across the state and world. She walks out what she has learned: that God’s Word will mix with life’s experience to create the wisdom needed for living. Follow @carolllundbtg on social media.
Kristin Peterson is a wife, mom, professional and spiritual development coach, and teacher. She loves to write and teach curriculum for women’s ministry, care ministry, and marriage conferences. When she isn’t leading a small group or engaged at church, she can be found walking her collie or tending to her garden.
Renee Grosso leads Artisan Church with her husband, Sam, in the north metro. She is dedicated to crafting intentional moments and memories for the people God has called her to serve. Home comes first. She deeply believes in the reality that FUN IS SPIRITUAL and urges women to live by their divine design. Follow @reneeagrosso on social media.

Pamela Steinle: Fighting Words
Our words are powerful! This workshop will teach attendees to identify their “natural” conflict habits, coach on application of Godly conflict resolution principles, and encourage the use of the Sword of the Spirit to fight our true enemy.
Pamela Steinle has been employed as a licensed attorney since 2011. In 2020, she opened Steinle Law PLLC, an estate planning and settlement law firm. Today, she balances her law life with a calling to encourage others to live an authentic life that is broken for Jesus. She and husband Justin run a household of girls (ages 7, 11 and an adult relative with Down syndrome), are amateur foodies, and enjoy domestic travel.
Learn more about Pamela at steinlegrace.com and @steinlegrace on social media.

Steph Peterson: Are You Dead Yet?
This session will address how we as leaders need to die to ourselves as we lead others and as we serve under our superiors. This can be incredibly difficult as a woman in ministry. We may be experiencing leading or following people with challenging personalities, but the Word says,
“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?”
Luke 9:23-25
The most influential leaders get this! Be ready to be challenged and also encouraged as you learn how to be a dead leader!
Steph has been in ministry to teens and college students for over 30 years. She has found her sweet spot in seeing things in people they don’t see in themselves and helping them develop their leadership and ministry gifts. Steph currently works with Minnesota Chi Alpha in Coaching and Development and also as the MN AG Credentialed Women Director.
Follow Steph Peterson on Facebook or @XAPastorSteph on Instagram.

Panel - Part 2 (11:30 am): Navigating Forgiveness as Leaders with Fellow Believers
Hear a LIVE conversation with wisdom-filled women as they share biblical teachings, personal stories, and advice on the powerful and vital topic of forgiveness as a leader!
- Part 1 (10:30 am) – How to Process Forgiveness, Bitterness, and Offense as a Leader
- Part 2 (11:30 am) – Navigating Forgiveness as Leaders with Fellow Believers
Mykelti Blum (panel facilitator) is a mom of two boys, wife, writer, speaker, host of the Bridging the Gap Podcast, and author of Braving Every Season. Mykelti loves connecting with others and knows the power of vulnerability. She is an open book, willing to discuss anything, so she’ll be the one to go first in sharing so that others feel less alone in their journey. Her passion is encouraging women to pursue their goals and dreams and to live in their purpose. Follow @mykelti_blum on social media.
Carol Lund is a Christian visionary, leader, and mentor, as well as a wife, mother of five, and grandmother of thirteen. As the former Director of Bridging the Gap for twenty-five years, she has been a catalyst for ministry to women across the state and world. She walks out what she has learned: that God’s Word will mix with life’s experience to create the wisdom needed for living. Follow @carolllundbtg on social media.
Kristin Peterson is a wife, mom, professional and spiritual development coach, and teacher. She loves to write and teach curriculum for women’s ministry, care ministry, and marriage conferences. When she isn’t leading a small group or engaged at church, she can be found walking her collie or tending to her garden.
Renee Grosso leads Artisan Church with her husband, Sam, in the north metro. She is dedicated to crafting intentional moments and memories for the people God has called her to serve. Home comes first. She deeply believes in the reality that FUN IS SPIRITUAL and urges women to live by their divine design. Follow @reneeagrosso on social media.
2026 Lakeside Bonfire Devotion

Staci Hulbert
Bundle up, grab coffee in the dining hall, and meet us for the Saturday 7:00 am Lakeside Bonfire Devotion by Lake Geneva!
Staci Hulbert is the Network of Women Minister’s Director for the Wisconsin Northern Michigan Network and co-leads Calvary Church in Marinette, WI. She has been involved in ministry for 37 years and loves speaking to the heart of women. She is most proud of her two sons, a beautiful daughter-in-love, and is excited to be a grandma in June of 2026.
2026 Brainstorming Groups

Tracy Hinz: Being a Christian Leader in the Marketplace
Join the discussion: ask questions, share thoughts, or come to listen!
Tracy Hinz, our conversation facilitator, currently has the privilege of providing leadership within a secular healthcare system. In addition to her role in healthcare, she also serves her community as a city council representative. In all of her leadership responsibilities, she regularly leans into her faith, which has been a guiding force and a source of strength for her. She is genuinely looking forward to the opportunity to connect, share experiences, and learn from one another.

Abby Olson: Mentoring for Kingdom Impact
Join the discussion: ask questions, share thoughts, or come to listen!
Abby Olson, our conversation facilitator, has been a wife to her husband, Jeff, for 28 years, a mother to four daughters, a mother-in-law, and now, joyfully, a Grandma. She has served in ministry alongside her husband for 29 years, spending the past 12 years on staff at The Waters Church in Sartell. Throughout her life, she has carried many roles—marrying young, balancing a career, adopting, homeschooling, leading small groups and mission trips, developing curriculum, serving as a pastor’s wife, and most recently exploring new adventures on a hobby farm—each season shaped by the wisdom and support of women who walked with her. Her passion for meaningful, God-centered connections led her to pioneer and facilitate a mentorship program at her church for the past nine years, a role she considers an honor as she witnesses what God is doing in the lives of women.

Shannon Velsor: How Are You Growing Your Small Business?
Join the discussion: ask questions, share thoughts, or come to listen!
Shannon Velsor, our conversation facilitator, serves as the Executive Pastor at North Star Community Church and helps lead Kingdom Leadership Coaching Group. Married to John and mom to two active boys, life is full of sports and energy. She loves coffee, books, and encouraging others in faith and leadership.
2026 Leadership Exchange

Rachelle Rawson
The Leadership Exchange: Hear from a variety of leaders, each on a topic the Lord has been teaching her recently and/or a leadership principle that has been of most importance to her!
Rachelle Rawson is a wife and mother of six and the Executive Director and Co-Founder of Agape Community Services, a faith-based organization dedicated to restoring men to their roles as present fathers, committed husbands, and servant leaders within their families and communities. Through long-term, evidence-based recovery and mentorship, Agape works to break cycles of addiction, incarceration, and generational trauma by placing the Gospel back at the center of the home.
Before founding Agape, Rachelle worked with at-risk youth in the juvenile justice system through Siouxland Youth for Christ, where she witnessed firsthand the devastating impact of father absenteeism on children and families. She is deeply passionate about strengthening Siouxland by raising up pro-social male leaders who bring stability, responsibility, and hope back into their households.
Rachelle is also a success story herself, having completed a recovery program similar to the one Agape will provide—giving her both lived experience and leadership insight into the work she leads today. She is a woman who loves fiercely, leads boldly, and is madly in love with her Savior.
If you were at the BTG Leadership Conference last year, you may also remember her as the 2025 Lund Leadership Award Recipient.

Nora Baron
The Leadership Exchange: Hear from a variety of leaders, each on a topic the Lord has been teaching her recently and/or a leadership principle that has been of most importance to her!
Nora Baron is a senior at the University of Northwestern who is planning to pursue a Master’s degree in Theology after graduation. If she’s not writing a paper for school, you can find her interning for BTG, drinking an iced latte, or hanging out with friends.

Charlene Williams
The Leadership Exchange: Hear from a variety of leaders, each on a topic the Lord has been teaching her recently and/or a leadership principle that has been of most importance to her!
Charlene Williams, a Georgetown, Guyana, native and First Lady of North Central University, is an adjunct professor, author, and ministry leader dedicated to empowering women in leadership and cultivating a global prayer movement. She is pursuing her Doctor of Ministry at AGTS and lives in Minneapolis with her husband, President Darnell K. Williams.

Tracy Hinz
The Leadership Exchange: Hear from a variety of leaders, each on a topic the Lord has been teaching her recently and/or a leadership principle that has been of most importance to her!
Tracy Hinz, our conversation facilitator, currently has the privilege of providing leadership within a secular healthcare system. In addition to her role in healthcare, she also serves her community as a city council representative. In all of her leadership responsibilities, she regularly leans into her faith, which has been a guiding force and a source of strength for her. She is genuinely looking forward to the opportunity to connect, share experiences, and learn from one another.

Aryanna Loeffler
The Leadership Exchange: Hear from a variety of leaders, each on a topic the Lord has been teaching her recently and/or a leadership principle that has been of most importance to her!
Aryanna Loeffler is a junior Global Studies major at North Central University (NCU) in Minneapolis. She is studying with the goal of serving as a missionary overseas, and she is passionate about seeing the gospel reach the nations. She currently serves as the Director of Delta Kappa, NCU’s women’s ministry, where she gets to walk alongside other women as they pursue Jesus together and grow in leadership, discipleship, and community. In her free time, she enjoys hanging out with friends, drinking coffee, listening to worship music, and reading.

Beth Vagle
The Leadership Exchange: Hear from a variety of leaders, each on a topic the Lord has been teaching her recently and/or a leadership principle that has been of most importance to her!
A licensed minister who serves alongside her husband as interim pastors and oversees Menuchah Place, a retreat place for ministers and missionaries. She is passionate about serving others through hospitality, teaching, and being a great listener. She is married to Steve, mom to five and two bonus children who are all adults. She is grateful for God’s sustaining love and hope (especially through grief), His many blessings, and the paths He’s led her down in life and ministry.

Pam Lund
The Leadership Exchange: Hear from a variety of leaders, each on a topic the Lord has been teaching her recently and/or a leadership principle that has been of most importance to her!
Pam Lund currently serves as the Minnesota School of Ministry (MNSOM) Director and Internship Director for the Minnesota District of the Assemblies of God. She also serves on the national executive board of the Association of District Schools of Ministry and is on the AG task force to determine what it takes to prepare people for the ministry in the future. Pam was called into the ministry over twenty-five years ago while in a successful career of training and instructional design for the telecommunications industry. Her true passion is to shepherd and equip men and women who have a call of God on their lives from secular employment to Christian vocational ministry.
She is also the founder and executive director of Princess Pals Ministries. This non-denominational 501(c)3 ministry is devoted to developing and delivering “out of the box” evangelism programs that assist adolescent girls develop good spiritual, emotional and physical life decisions. Princess Pals is also dedicated to training leaders who wish to mentor, lead and evangelize adolescent girls. God has graciously allowed Pam to train and equip missionaries and church leaders around the world in over 14 countries in seven different languages. Born and raised in Minnesota, Pam resides in Maple Grove, Minnesota and attends Emmanuel Christian Center.

Tina Von Wald
The Leadership Exchange: Hear from a variety of leaders, each on a topic the Lord has been teaching her recently and/or a leadership principle that has been of most importance to her!
Tina and her husband have been married for 40 years and are the proud parents of three married children and grandparents to four. For 23 years, they co-pastored the church they planted in rural Foley, MN, retiring from pastoral ministry in June 2025. Tina is an ordained minister and earned her Master of Theology in Rural Ministry in 2021. She now serves as a life and leadership coach and is passionate about helping people navigate life, leadership and self-discovery with a Christ-centered approach to the Enneagram.
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